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A question to all Americans on this forum, about something i saw in a movie.

inf1nity

inf1nity

Golden Member
I just saw the movie Due Date and i have a question that I'd like answered. I am talking about the airplane scene where Peter gets shot by the bald guard for discussing terrorists and bombs.

For those of you who haven't seen the movie, here is the scene-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Bt4GB4XlM

Now my question is- Is it possible for something like this to really happen? Are American authorities so paranoid after 9/11 that they just shoot people at the slightest suspicion? Or is this something that would never happen in real life?

What if two people were discussing the War on Terror or the insurgency in Iraq or the ISIS, and they simply say the word terrorist, they'll be shot?? Sounds crazy.

How likely is it for something like this to happen, in real?


Also, is the possibility of this happening increased if the "suspects" are not white, and speak with a foreign accent?
 
Nothing is impossible, but this seems very unlikely. That said, I fully expect American airline/airport security staff to err on the side of caution with respect to any passengers who look dodgy or discuss things like bombs.

By err on the side of caution I mean detain the individual.

By look dodgy I mean... well... we're kidding ourselves if we believe that security personnel are above racial, ethnic, religious or linguistic profiling
 
Black Octagon said:
Nothing is impossible, but this seems very unlikely. That said, I fully expect American airline/airport security staff to err on the side of caution with respect to any passengers who look dodgy or discuss things like bombs.

By err on the side of caution I mean detain the individual.

By look dodgy I mean... well... we're kidding ourselves if we believe that security personnel are above racial, ethnic, religious or linguistic profiling
Click to expand...
This.

Paranoia at airports is rampant though and things can get tense quickly for no good reason. I've had to unpack luggage entirely, showing each item to a TSA screener, because they weren't able to identify everything via x-ray. I had some souvenir magnetic rocks from a national park gift-store, which were bagged and clearly labeled as such. Two of the screeners spent a couple minutes looking at them, seeming to search for some reason to disallow them. Finding no rational for that, they were content taking away a nail clipper I'd made it through airports 3 times with previously.

The most bizarre incident I had though (which I wish I had a recording of) was being stopped after I was asked to empty my pockets and step through a metal detector. I kept my boarding pass in-hand, not wanting it to leave my sight when my other items were being surveyed. This apparently constituted suspicious behavior, because the TSA agent locked her eyes on it and looked me over. I felt I had to inform her, "This is a piece of paper." Because she honestly seemed unsure of what to make of the situation. After another silent moment standing there with my hands in front of me for clear perusal, I repeated, "It's just a piece of paper."
She finally acknowledged, "I KNOW it's a piece of paper!" then looked over to a guy who looked like he'd just stepped off the set of Men in Black. That gentleman nodded approval, and they let me through without any further explanation.
 
Wow I cannot believe this thread is real.

That said, I would consider it poor etiquette to discuss "bombs" or whatnot within earshot of others in an airport/airplane. People are paranoid, unfortunately.
 
rcpratt said:
Wow I cannot believe this thread is real.

That said, I would consider it poor etiquette to discuss "bombs" or whatnot within earshot of others in an airport/airplane. People are paranoid, unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Newbian said:
If you believe everything you see in a movie then yes it's true animals can talk.
Click to expand...

No need to be sarcastic, I've never been to the USA, although I have heard stories about over-zealous security staff humiliating foreigners.

http://www.ibtimes.com/us-officials...as-former-president-did-tsa-go-too-far-371782

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15711135
 
LightPattern said:
This.

Paranoia at airports is rampant though and things can get tense quickly for no good reason. I've had to unpack luggage entirely, showing each item to a TSA screener, because they weren't able to identify everything via x-ray. I had some souvenir magnetic rocks from a national park gift-store, which were bagged and clearly labeled as such. Two of the screeners spent a couple minutes looking at them, seeming to search for some reason to disallow them. Finding no rational for that, they were content taking away a nail clipper I'd made it through airports 3 times with previously.

The most bizarre incident I had though (which I wish I had a recording of) was being stopped after I was asked to empty my pockets and step through a metal detector. I kept my boarding pass in-hand, not wanting it to leave my sight when my other items were being surveyed. This apparently constituted suspicious behavior, because the TSA agent locked her eyes on it and looked me over. I felt I had to inform her, "This is a piece of paper." Because she honestly seemed unsure of what to make of the situation. After another silent moment standing there with my hands in front of me for clear perusal, I repeated, "It's just a piece of paper."
She finally acknowledged, "I KNOW it's a piece of paper!" then looked over to a guy who looked like he'd just stepped off the set of Men in Black. That gentleman nodded approval, and they let me through without any further explanation.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. Those agents appear retarded to me. I mean how can someone who works at an airport be so intrigued by a boarding pass? 😀
 
inf1nity said:
Thanks for sharing. Those agents appear retarded to me. I mean how can someone who works at an airport be so intrigued by a boarding pass? 😀
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The TSA doesn't pay that much. With the federal benefits, it's better than hourly retail and some (non-Union) factory work...so that's the type of employees they attract.
 
Waiting for RedSquirrel to come in (our resident American expert, no matter he's Canadian) and say "Yes!"
 
It's a comedy. Comedies generally rely on an exaggeration of truth to provide humorous effect. So while someone may be chastised for talking about terrorism on an airplane, they wouldn't be shot. It's a humorous exaggeration.
 
You'd think it's crazy nonsense, but then you have the stories of the people joking about Ebola and getting into major trouble.

Paranoia knows no bounds.
 
Red Storm said:
You'd think it's crazy nonsense, but then you have the stories of the people joking about Ebola and getting into major trouble.

Paranoia knows no bounds.
Click to expand...

Youts who live their lives online see no distinction. Falsely yelling "fire" in a theater has similar results. The disconnect comes from lack of experience.
 
Black Octagon said:
Nothing is impossible, but this seems very unlikely. That said, I fully expect American airline/airport security staff to err on the side of caution with respect to any passengers who look dodgy or discuss things like bombs.

By err on the side of caution I mean detain the individual.

By look dodgy I mean... well... we're kidding ourselves if we believe that security personnel are above racial, ethnic, religious or linguistic profiling
Click to expand...

Rent-a-cops
 
Not likely but there are plenty of other things you could do/say to piss off some redneck idiot with a gun that might get you shot.
 
OP, the situation is exactly how it is depicted. Don't let these fools fool you! The US is exactly like that movie. Similar to how India is exactly like what is depicted in Endhiran.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Not likely but there are plenty of other things you could do/say to piss off some redneck idiot with a gun that might get you shot.
Click to expand...

Train said:
lol yep

Baltimore, DC, Detroit, Oakland, and all the other murder capitals of the USA. Chock full of red necks
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Point. But substitute "inner city minority" for "redneck" and you'd bring down a shitstorm for being un-PC.
Rednecks & conservatives have thicker skin. Anyway, no need to drag this thread into P&N.
 
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